Bump

I'd been expecting it for a while, but F's first actual banged head was still a fairly traumatic experience.

For both of us, obviously. And her more than me - she didn't see it coming. She's getting better and better at walking now, although she needs support. This is either from me holding her hands or from whatever furniture is nearby, she's not that fussy.

I know she'd rather walk away from me towards an open room or other interesting vista than walk towards me, she makes that very clear. Not that she doesn't like me, but my face has been well visited by her exploring hands. Whereas other, lesser-used parts of the flat like the kitchen or bathroom still hold mysteries.

Anyway, a few days back she was pottering round the bedroom, using the side bars of her crib as a vertical ladder to progress. I hovered nearby behind her, ready to catch her when she overbalanced. She did, obviously, tripping on her own feet. And then that turned into a game, where I'd count to three and go 'wheee!' and she'd let go and fall into my lap.

When she tried playing that game without me, we got to the bumped head part.

In classic parenting style, I'd barely looked away for a minute. I was moving the laptop out of her loving clutches. It took three seconds, no more, I swear.

I looked back in time to see her topple backwards, lumbered-tree style, full-length on to the floor. It's a terrible noise, the hollow knock of skull on parquet. I think now, several weeks later, I can still feel it echoing round my spine and chest.

Lots of howling and tears, obviously, as well as a terrible wounded look which to my mortified mind read as 'I thought you'd be there to catch me'. But lots of hugs later, completely forgotten, and back to staggering round the coffee table perfectly happy.

Concussive amnesia is my diagnosis. It clearly works wonders.